North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Type of Trust
NHS hospital trust
Trust Details
Last annual budget
Employees
Chair Ian Gordon
Chief Executive Ann Farrar
Links
Website North Cumbria University Hospitals
Care Quality Commission reports CQC

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust was created in April 2001 by merging Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust and West Cumbria Healthcare NHS Trust. It runs Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, Cumbria, Penrith Hospital and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, England. In January 2012, the Trust decided that its preferred future was as part of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Financial Problems

The Trust's financial problems are longstanding[1] and associated with the move of services out of hospital closer to patients' homes and the difficulties of delivering services in a large rural area.[2] The Trust predicts a deficit of £22.8m in 2013-14.[3] In May 2014 it was reported that the Trust had been forced to get a loan in order to pay its debts. According to its loan application, only 19.5 per cent of the trust’s non-NHS suppliers had been paid on time at the end of January, against a target of 95 per cent.[4]

It spent 7.3% of its total turnover on agency staff in 2014/5.[5]

Mortality

The Trust was placed in special measures as a result of Sir Bruce Keogh's review of hospital mortality.[6] In October 2013 the Trust was put into the highest risk category by the Care Quality Commission.[7]

In December 2013 the Trust was one of thirteen hospital trusts named by Dr Foster Intelligence as having higher than expected higher mortality indicator scores for the period April 2012 to March 2013 in their Hospital Guide 2013.[8] It was put into a buddying arrangement with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.[9]

Private Finance Initiative

In February 2014 it was reported that the trust board had lost confidence in the maintenance and estates services provided to the Cumberland Infirmary through Health Management Carlisle under the PFI contract after a probe uncovered “major issues” with the way its operating theatres, water systems and gas pipelines were being maintained.[10]

Staffing

In March 2014 it became apparent that the Trust was struggling to retain clinical staff, when three consultants resigned, and as a result junior doctors were removed because there was a lack of consultant supervision. There was a 25 per cent vacancy rate in consultant posts, the equivalent of 50 people, meaning the trust is relying heavily on locums. Nursing gaps at the hospital were said to be so serious they needed daily monitoring.[11]

In June 2014 a senior consultant, Guy Broome, co-chairman of the Trust's Medical Staff Committee resigned his post, questioning the motives of Northumbria Healthcare, wanting to see the merger stopped and other options explored. He claimed his workload has been stripped back since new bosses took over and specialist links to experts in Newcastle had been severed.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Analysed: a healthcare crisis facing Cumbria". Health Service Journal. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "TRUST FACING 20PC CUT IN BUDGET". Times and Star. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "More than a third of trusts predict year-end deficit". Local Government Chronicle. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Exclusive: Trusts plead for extra cash to pay bills". Health Service Journal. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Agency spending: the real picture". Health Service Journal. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "HEALTH SECRETARY GIVES REASSURANCE OVER CUMBRIAN HOSPITALS". News and Star. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "NHS Trusts put in risk categories - full list". Independent. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Dr Foster identifies 13 trusts with high mortality ratios". Health Service Journal. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "‘Buddy’ trusts could double their money under bonus scheme". Health Service Journal. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Trust 'loses confidence' in PFI provider". Health Service Journal. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Junior doctors pulled out of Cumbrian hospital amid supervision concerns". News and Star. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "CONSULTANT QUITS, CALLS FOR NORTH CUMBRIA HOSPITALS TAKEOVER TO BE STOPPED". News and Star. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
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